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2011 Reply to 2nd consultation on Working Time Directive
Ceemet replied that a revision of the Directive was not desirable as it would risk undermining the balance and solutions found at national and local level notably through collective agreements. It is at national level that efforts need to be made to allow the optimal utilisation of the potential flexibility that exists in the Directive and to leave to social partners the necessary room for manoeuvre to combine companies’ and employees’ needs for flexibility in working time organisation. After closing the first stage consultation, the Commission concluded that a revision was unavoidable.
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Ceemet key message
Ceemet replied that a revision was not desirable as it would risk undermining the balance and solutions found at national and local level notably through collective agreements. The Commission concluded differently and is considering two options:
- a review focused on on-call time and compensatory rest
- a comprehensive review looking in particular at more flexibility (collective agreements – reference period), improved conciliation of work and family life, a revised definition of autonomous workers, greater clarity for multiple contracts, special attention to the use of the opt-out, and the clarification of issues raised by an ECJ ruling on paid annual leave
On that basis, the Commission got back to the social partners.